Beijing Capital Airlines withdraw their planned flights from Beijing and Hangzhou to Birmingham Airport

Birmingham Airport has announced that it has been advised by Caissa Touristic that it will not

now be operating the planned scheduled services to Beijing and Hangzhou in China this year

The Beijing Capital Airlines programme, which was due to commence on Tuesday 19 July 2016 

has been withdrawn by the Chinese tour operator for unknown reasons

Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive of Birmingham Airport, said, "We have been advised by Caissa

Touristic that these flights will no longer operate this summer"

"There is strong demand for flights between China and the Midlands. Last year around

150,000 people flew between our region and China and we have made significant investment

over the last two years to offer services with Caissa. We are currently unaware as to the reasons

why given the success of the China services over the last two summers from Birmingham"

"We are awaiting more information from the tour operator as to why it has made this decision but

we are confident that we will be able to reinstate services between Birmingham and China in the future"

The planned programme, announced last month, was for two services – once a week to Beijing and

once per week to Hangzhou Airport, Shanghai. It follows two successful years of charter services where

Caissa Touristic carried thousands of Chinese tourists into Birmingham for package holidays in the UK

Friday 20 May 2016

Beijing Capital Airlines to operate scheduled services from Birmingham Airport to Beijing and Hangzhou

Beijing Capital Airlines will be launching two new scheduled services from Birmingham

Airport to Beijing and Hangzhou - which is close to Shanghai - on Tuesday 19 July 2016

The twice weekly departures will offer passengers the chance to visit China’s capital and

the country’s largest city direct from Birmingham Airport. This scheduled service follows

on from the success of direct charter flights, the first outside of London, which saw over

7,000 Chinese visitors travel through Birmingham Airport during 2014 and 2015
 

These flights will be on sale to UK residents and will also be sold "inbound" through the

Chinese tour operator Caissa Touristic, one of China’s most important Travel Companies

Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive of Birmingham Airport, said, "Today we have reached one

of our goals – to offer direct scheduled services to China.  We have made the investment,

developed the market and today is testament that our region has enormous demand for

direct flights to China" 

"Last year around 150,000 people flew between our region and China, with passengers

preferring to travel from their local airport.  Beijing Capital Airlines and Caissa Touristic

have recognised this demand, leading to a scheduled service to both Beijing and Shanghai"

  

"These flights will give our region direct access to China and will also offer Chinese tourists

an alternative gateway to the UK, which has previously proved so popular"

The scheduled services will operate on Saturdays to Beijing and on Tuesdays to Hangzhou

Airport near Shanghai and will be operated by an Airbus A330-200 aircraft, with a total of

211 seats - 33 business and 178 in economy

Beijing Capital Airlines schedule from Tuesday 19 July to 29 October 2016 

0805/1030 JD485/486 Airbus A330 from/to Beijing

- operates on Saturday

2230/0030 JD495/496 Airbus A330 from/to Hangzhou

 - operates on Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning

Flight schedule/timings are subject to confirmation 
 

Thursday 21 April 2016